News Articles
Salinas losing six of its elite anti-gang officers, Salinas Californian, 6/26/10
But this summer, those residents may notice something unwanted: a rise in the kinds of crimes the unit fights against.
Cold turkey time for Sacramento? Measure aimed at ending ‘stealing’ of local funds, Manteca Bulletin, 1/18/10
Voters could force Sacramento’s hand in November if a proposition that would make it illegal for the state to either borrow, redirect, or seize revenue dedicated to local government qualifies for the ballot.
Governor's gas tax idea wrong, say area transit officials, Ventura County Star, 1/16/10
After losing a legal battle with local transit agencies over a funding maneuver that diverted revenues from them over the past two years, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this year is trying a new approach: take the air out of their tires.
Schwarzenegger plan for gasoline taxes slammed as 'bait and switch', Sacramento Bee, 1/14/10
In an effort to free up money to balance the state budget, the governor wants to reduce the sales tax motorists pay on gas purchases while increasing the gas excise tax, also paid at the pump.
Local road system is near failure, including in Solano County, Oakland Tribune, 1/13/10
California's local roadway system is on the brink of failure, according to a new study presented to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
ESCONDIDO: Without drastic cuts, city would run out of money by summer 2012 Plummeting revenue blamed for 'biggest financial crisis ever', North County Times, 1/13/10
Sales tax and other revenues are falling so much faster than expected that Escondido will exhaust its $27 million in remaining reserves by summer 2012 unless drastic cuts are made, city officials said Wednesday.
Those without cars hit hardest by Bay Area transit crisis, San Jose Mercury News, 1/13/10
Like many Bay Area residents who rely on public transit to get out around, Redwood City resident Trevor Irwin feels helpless when fares rise and service levels drop.
Officials Propose Ballot Initiative, San Jose Mercury News, 1/13/10
Just four days after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled a new budget proposal that promises another year of deep cuts, Bay Area elected officials launched a campaign to get a measure on the November 2010 ballot that would stop the state from borrowing — or taking — tax money bound for local governments.
New state budget could cut county funds by $4 billion, Torrance Daily Breeze, 1/12/10
The governor's proposed state budget could mean a record loss of nearly $4 billion for Los Angeles County, putting hundreds of thousands of needy residents at risk of losing welfare checks, in-home care, health care and other services, officials said Tuesday.
Massive county layoffs likely, chief exec says, Riverside Press-Enterprise, 1/12/10
Hundreds of Riverside County workers could be laid off or offered early retirement within the next two years as officials struggle to close an estimated $71 million budget gap, county leaders said.
City officials back measure to fight state, Sacramento Press, 1/12/10
City officials are supporting a proposed ballot initiative that aims to ban the state from taking or borrowing local government monies.
More cuts to bus service might be in store, Orange County Register, 1/12/10
Deeper cuts to Orange County bus service might be forthcoming if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed budget goes through, according to Orange County transportation officials.
Local leaders protest raids, San Mateo Daily Journal, 1/12/10
Tired of the state raiding local tax dollars to fix its budget, city leaders from across the Bay Area assembled in Foster City yesterday to launch a statewide signature-gathering campaign to get an initiative on the ballot to prevent the raids.
Long Beach Transit says state budget may force cuts in service, Long Beach Press Telegram, 1/11/10
Long Beach Transit may be forced to cut back on its service if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's budget plan, which he announced last week, is implemented.
Move begins to stop state from taking funds, LA Daily News, 1/11/10
A coalition of officials from Los Angeles and other California cities launched an initiative campaign Monday in an effort to block the state from appropriating more local money to balance its budget.
Ballot initiative barring state from taking local funds gains steam, Torrance Daily Breeze, 1/11/10
A proposed ballot initiative aimed at barring the state from raiding local government coffers to balance its budget gained steam Monday in Los Angeles.
L.A. County face big budget shortfall SPENDING: Departments are told to start planning for cuts of up to 9 percent, LA Daily News, 1/11/10
Reeling from state budget cuts and plummeting tax revenues, Los Angeles County officials are expecting a "serious" budget shortfall in the fiscal year that begins July 1 and have ordered departments to plan for cuts of up to 9 percent.
Bay Area officials push ballot measure to block state budget raids, San Mateo County Times, 1/11/10
Just four days after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled a new budget proposal that promises another year of deep cuts, Bay Area elected officials launched a campaign to get a measure on the November 2010 ballot that would stop the state from borrowing — or taking — tax money bound for local governments.
Governor's budget would strip city, county cash, San Francisco Chronicle, 1/10/10
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has demanded more federal dollars to help balance the state's budget, but local officials say he also sent a clear message to cities and counties throughout California: The state is coming for your money, too.
Initiative would protect local funds from state, Lodi News-Sentinel, 1/9/10
Fed up with the state taking millions from local governments, city leaders are joining forces throughout California in an effort to ban the legislature from taking funds from cities in the future.
Running on empty: Bay Area transit in crisis, Oakland Tribune, 1/9/10
After enduring the most brutal year in the history of Bay Area public transit, train and bus operators are barreling down a track toward bankruptcy. The near-inevitable result will be costlier and longer commutes for all, whether they ride or drive.
'Big hit' to transit funding SR, Sonoma County bus service would face huge cuts under governor's proposed budget, Santa Rosa Press-Democrat, 1/9/10
Santa Rosa city buses pause Friday at the downtown transit mall. Services would be reduced, officials said, under the state's budget plan.
Local officials kickoff drive to stop state raids, San Mateo Daily Journal, 1/8/10
Bay Area local government, transportation, business, public safety, labor and public transit leaders will hold a news conference Monday, Jan. 11 outside the Foster City Fire Station to kick off a statewide signature-gathering campaign to qualify the Local Taxpayer, Public Safety and Transportation Protection Act of 2010 for the November ballot.
Salinas, county officials back ballot initiative, Salinas Californian, 1/8/10
Petition seeks to stop the state from taking local revenues.
Locals kick off petition drive to protect tax revenue, Monterey County Herald, 1/8/10
That is because a coalition of local government agencies, led by the League of California Cities, is spearheading a constitutional amendment that would prohibit the state from tapping local funds — and require it to pay back money it has already taken.
Santa Rosa officials push ballot measure to block state cash grab, Santa Rosa Press-Democrat, 1/7/10
Santa Rosa city, fire and police officials are calling for voters to support a signature gathering effort that could put a measure on the November ballot preventing state government from diverting local government revenues as budget-balancing tactic.
Leaders lobby for state borrowing restriction legislation, Del Mar Times, 1/6/10
Elected officials from around San Diego County Wednesday announced a statewide signature-gathering effort to qualify a ballot measure seeking to block the state's ability to borrow funds from local municipalities to balance its budget.
Orange County sheriff braces for major budget cuts in new year, KPCC-FM89.3, 1/4/10
Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens is hoping for a prosperous new year, but she's not banking on one. She expects to make major budget cuts in the coming year.
Coalition Fighting Diversion of Funds, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1/4/10
A powerful alliance of interest groups wants to put an end to what it considers highway robbery.
The League of California Cities, California Transit Association and other organizations have launched an initiative aimed at stopping state lawmakers from raiding transportation funds and other locally dedicated revenues to cover California’s chronic budget shortfalls.
Police say cuts will impact street patrols, Move will help city’s budget, but exacerbate current under-staffing, Petaluma Argus-Courier, 1/1/10
The recent agreement by nearly 90 members of the Petaluma Police Department to take 96 hours off without pay during the next 18 months is designed to help the city’s budget situation, but it also will further deplete the already-understaffed department.
Cities want to stop state raids on local taxes, San Mateo Daily Journal, 12/29/09
Local government leaders are ready to face state lawmakers head on in an attempt to stop more raids on local taxes and are ready to collect enough signatures to get a measure on next November’s ballot to prevent the practice.
Schwarzenegger's plan to again raid transit funds angers rider advocates, Los Angeles Times, 12/24/09
The governor's proposal to help balance California's budget, which would cut as much as $1 billion from public transportation, could trigger more route closures and fare hikes for buses and trains.
Ballot measure would block raids on local government, Contra Costa Times, 12/24/09
Angered by a series of raids on local funds by state government, a coalition of local government groups kicked off a signature-gathering effort Wednesday with a ballot measure that would thwart any future raids.
Governor's deficit cure: Layoffs, furlough extensions, program cuts, Sacramento Bee, 12/24/09
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger plans to save $1.6 billion in state employee costs by extending monthly furloughs past June, laying off staff or shifting general fund workers into state jobs financed by other revenues, according to sources familiar with the governor's forthcoming budget proposal.
San Carlos may have to lay off cops, close parks to avoid big budget deficit, San Jose Mercury News, 12/18/09
Facing a deepening budget hole, San Carlos officials are considering taking some drastic measures in the coming year, such as closing parks and community centers, laying off police officers and turning off streetlights.
Move afoot to stop future state raids on local money, Manteca Bulletin, 11/16/09
California voters in November 2010 may be asked to vote for a ballot measure that significantly curtails the state’s ability to borrow or simply take money from cities and counties in order to cover state budget deficits.
Marin transit likely to reduce service, Contra Costa Times, 11/14/09
Concerned about a projected $16 million deficit over the next 10 years, the Marin Transit District board of directors is expected to trim service at a meeting on Monday.
Budget "brown out" slows response to burning Curtis Park house, Sacramento Bee, 11/2/09
A budget-cutting "brown out" slowed Sacramento city firefighters response tonight to a two-alarm fire that burned a Curtis Park family out of its home, officials said.
Group files initiative to block state from borrowing local funds, Sacramento Bee Capitol Alert, 10/20/09
A coalition of representatives for local governments and the transportation and public transit sectors has submitted an initiative to the Attorney General's office that seeks to block the state from borrowing or redirecting local government funds.
Can 16 cops be saved by Saturday?, Manteca Bulletin, 10/7/09
A behind-the-scenes effort is quietly underway to avoid 16 layoffs of Manteca Police officers this Saturday.
On June 15, police Chief Louis Fetherolf announced that the unit will lose six of its 16 officers to help the city stave off a $12.4 million deficit for the 2010-11 fiscal year.
Oakland council OKs 80 police layoffs, Oakland Tribune, 6/25/10
The City Council voted 5-3 Thursday night to lay off 80 police officers as part of a package to fill a $31 million budget deficit.
Eight cops to get the ax: Four other police positions could be cut, Folsom Telegraph, 5/26/10
Eight of Folsom’s sworn police officers and four others in there department were handed pink slips last week, following recommendations that their positions be eliminated as of June 30.
Corning Braces For Budget Cuts, KHSL TV-12 (Redding), 4/28/10
You do not usually see a fire chief answering 9-1-1 calls, but that is the budget reality right now in Corning.
State Raids Huntington Beach Redevelopment Funds, Voice of OC Blog, 4/20/10
Huntington Beach will have to cut $1.9 million from its redevelopment budget following a decision by the state to shift property tax revenues to fund education.
It's not just the Capitol: Billions in red ink drowning California's cities, schools and counties, too, San Jose Mercury News, 3/6/10
With even well-managed counties, cities and schools finding themselves in the same budget hole that has swallowed state government, California now confronts a financial crisis that may be unrivaled — though it is also maddeningly difficult to quantify.
Fire Station Cutbacks Could Hurt Response Times, KPBS FM- 89.5 (San Diego), 3/4/10
San Diego’s fire department has been operating under a money saving strategy for about a month. Under the plan, up to eight fire engines can be idled each day and their crews reassigned to cover for sick or absent firefighters. The plan saves money but could also impact the department’s response times.
Santa Barbara County facing stark budget realities, Santa Maria Times, 2/24/10
Firefighters may not be able to run into a burning home because of staff cuts.
Rohnert Park begins cutting jobs, Santa Rosa Press Democrat, 2/23/10,
The Rohnert Park City Council, hoping to close a $4.4 million deficit that is projected to swell to $6 million next year, took an axe to its city budget Tuesday and said it would also ask voters for more money through a sales tax measure.
Cupertino joins cities supporting ballot measure to keep taxes from state, San Jose Mercury Community News, 2/16/10
Cupertino is among a growing list of California cities backing a constitutional amendment to permanently prevent the state from taking local tax revenues.
Novato's two police dogs slated to be cut from city budget, Contra Costa Times, 2/11/10
Officially, Novato projects to cut its city staff by 39 positions over the next two years if budget-reducing recommendations are approved next month. But that number jumps to 41 if the scope is broadened to include every living being.
Vallejo cops seek greener pastures nearby, Vallejo Times-Herald, 2/1/10
Vallejo is "lateraling" more and more experienced police officers to nearby Bay Area cities as more layoffs loom in the near future for the bankrupt city.
Perris police budget slashed by $900,000, Riverside Press-Enterprise, 1/31/10
Perris citizens will see fewer patrol cars, less traffic enforcement and possibly slower emergency response times after a $900,000 cut to the city's law enforcement budget.
Rocklin approves police, fire layoffs, Placer Herald, 1/27/10
Council directs city to cut $4 million from budget
San Rafael council brings ax down on 15 jobs, Marin Daily Journal, 1/26/10
San Rafael city leaders at a special meeting Tuesday unanimously cut nearly 15 jobs from the city payroll in an effort to stave off a fiscal fiasco that tenured council members said was the worst they had seen in nearly 20 years.
ESCONDIDO: Budget plan would close arts center, city pools, library branch, North County Times, 1/25/10
Orange Glen High School girls water polo team coach Elizabeth Boyer runs practice Monday at Washington Park Pool in Escondido. The city may close the pool due to budget problems.
Cities hope petitions save cash, The Vacaville Reporter, 1/22/10
Cities are banding together in an effort to put a stop to state raids of local government money.
Woodland's Chamber hears pitch for new amendment, Woodland Daily Democrat, 1/21/10
League of Cities pushing to stop state from raiding local coffers
BART debates whether to raise fares, lay off workers to cope with budget deficit, San Jose Mercury News, 1/20/10
Higher fares, layoffs and dirtier train cars and stations.
These are all possibilities at BART during another grim financial year, with ridership and sales-tax revenue continuing to decline.